The new Bulgarian trade show was used as a launch pad for Alfastreet's latest multiplayer automated table game, Texas Hold 'Em, a game which the company feels has not been marketed in Europe as well as might be expected.

Miha Miklavcic told InterGaming that the launch, at the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE) held September 30-October 2, was the first of three major launches. The others are in Las Vegas and London.

The game is the first Texas Hold ‘Em produced by Alfastreet and the company had spent a considerable amount of time working on the project. “The difference between our game and those of competitors which are already out there,” said Miklavcic, “is that they have taken a game and automated it; we have taken an electronic table and applied Texas Hold ‘Em to it. The difference is subtle, but important.”

He said that Alfastreet’s long experience in the automated tables business enabled it to more accurately interpret the games it used. “Europe is not as familiar with Texas Hold ‘Em as North American players. But the popularity of the game on internet gambling sites - and where an automated version is available people will drive long distances to play it - suggests it should be very successful here. I think that the problem is that the operators have not marketed as well as they might.

“We are putting into place a series of tournaments for casino operators to promote the game to their players. I think that this will make a big impact.”